My home cinema build thread

[bigboss]

I haven't properly tested the sound yet. With lack of furniture and furnishings in the room (which will help room acoustics), I don't want to go through Audyssey calibration either. The flooring is being re-oiled right now, will move sofas in tonight and run Audyssey.

The projector isn't in, but I can post some pictures tonight. I think I'll start a new thread for the finished pictures.

 

[bigboss]

You're right ellisdj. Just spoke to Monitor Audio on the phone. They were very helpful. They've advised using a spray can to paint. If for any reason the grilles get ruined, it costs only £15 per grille including delivery.

 

[bigboss]

Just a sneak peek of my system (the iPad dock is still to be installed, and waiting for painted grilles for the surround speakers to return, and of course, waiting for the projector).

Click on the image to open it in a different window in the correct aspect ratio.

My phone's camera struggled with the grey screen, showing green patches. The screen isn't patchy!

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Looking good BB.

 

[bigboss]

Thanks gel! Ran Audyssey calibration. It was ridiculously easy. The rear Atmos speakers were lower in volume as compared to others (they're run by an external amplifier). Interestingly, Audyssey has set the front and centre speakers as "large", presumably because they're 3 way speakers.

Just watched the last 15 mins of Pacific Rim. The speakers, AV receiver and the subwoofer are AWESOME!! Far superior to my previous setup. The 7.1 speakers just envelope you, as if you're in the middle of all action!!

 

[Frank Harvey]

Interestingly, Audyssey has set the front and centre speakers as "large", presumably because they're 3 way speakers.

Did you leave as is, or change them to small?

 

[bigboss]

I've left them as is for now, as I wasn't sure whether I should disturb the Audyssey setup. What do you think?

 

[bigboss]

I've now manually set the fronts and centre as "small" and crossovers at 60Hz, while the surrounds have been set at 120Hz. What do you think?

 

[ellisdj]

Setups always set speakers to large - set to small then if possible run it again but choosing to keep those settings.

I found that always gives best results - I know why but a lot to explain *good*

Thats way too low for speakers like that - start at 100hz and see if you get away with it - it will have much much much more punch!!

And have the same all round. Think about it the sub needs to integrate with the speakers a different crossover means a different crossover curve, easier to see that explain - its crazy to me to have the option for different

 

[bigboss]

Thanks. I've set it all at 90Hz, as my subwoofer dial goes to 140Hz after 90Hz. I'll test tomorrow.

 

[scene]

Usually you set speakers to small to ensure that LFE get sent to the sub. With the SR7009, you can set an option to always send LFE to the sub - i.e. as well as the fronts, even if they are large. This is what I'm planning to try when I get my sub.

 

[bigboss]

I'm pleased that the gamble of pairing MA speakers with Marantz without a demo paid off.

I was under the assumption that when you employ the stereo amplifier as "source direct") and set the volume dial at 12 o' clock position, the AVR takes over volume control. That doesn't happen with mine. I've had to manually turn the volume up to match other speakers. I'll check with Marantz.

One more thing; you can only run either the fronts or rear ceiling speakers through a separate stereo amplifier via pre-outs, despite the AVR having pre-outs for all channels.

 

[The_Lhc]

I was under the assumption that when you employ the stereo amplifier as "source direct" and set the volume dial at 12 o' clock position, the AVR takes over volume control. That doesn't happen with mine. I've had to manually turn the volume up to match other speakers. I'll check with Marantz.

Source direct is simply to defeat any tone controls or processing, if it defeated the volume control you wouldn't be able to listen to anything using just that amp. Does the amp not have a Unity Gain, AV bypass input or such like, one that bypasses the volume controls completely? In that case all volume would be set by the AV amp. If not then you set to the stereo volume to 12 o'clock (or anything convenient) and then run the auto calibration to allow the AV amp to set the level appropriately. You have to leave the stereo amp volume control where it is after that though.

Is this going to be used for music as well? Ie are there two-channel sources plugged directly into the stereo amp? If not I'm puzzled as to why you didn't just go for a stereo power-amp in that case?

 

[Deleted member 2457]

I'm pleased that the gamble of pairing MA speakers with Marantz without a demo paid off.

I was under the assumption that when you employ the stereo amplifier as "source direct") and set the volume dial at 12 o' clock position, the AVR takes over volume control. That doesn't happen with mine. I've had to manually turn the volume up to match other speakers. I'll check with Marantz.

One more thing; you can only run either the fronts or rear ceiling speakers through a separate stereo amplifier via pre-outs, despite the AVR having pre-outs for all channels.

I didn't demo my Pioneer sc-lx81 with my speakers either but had demoed it with Pioneer amps and that paid off too! *smile*

 

[Deleted member 2457]

BB if you need any help with your installation or setup these guys are very good and cheap:

http://www.av-insight.co.uk

They have done around 4 setups for me and been great each time.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

BB if you need any help with your installation or setup these guys are very good and cheap:

http://www.av-insight.co.uk

They have done around 4 setups for me and been great each time.

You can click on it now.

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Grandma? Need some egg sucking? Set sub crossover to 90/140hz???? Surely set to max and control through amp.. Im sure Ive misread or similar?

PS The forum pix make it look like yr tv is portrait ! Nice build BB.

 

[The_Lhc]

Grandma? Need some egg sucking? Set sub crossover to 90/140hz???? Surely set to max and control through amp.. Im sure Ive misread or similar?

Yes that was my first thought as well, SUB crossover set as high as possible and allow the amp to do all the figuring out for itself.

If you set the sub crossover to 60Hz and then the amp crossover to 100Hz you'll get nothing between 60 and 100Hz at all.

 

[his dudeness]

bb im pretty sure setting all speakers to small is fine,i had 4 speakers set to large and changed all to small crossover 80 sounds way better this way and does not affect audyssey,also check with each source dynamic volume and dynamic eq are on by default everytime you run setup sound way better with them off.*drinks*

 

[bigboss]

I looked at power amps, but they were way more expensive. I got a good deal on the PM6005 as it was a customer return.

I meant I've set all the speakers and the sub at 90Hz crossover to begin with. I'll test more and see what's best.

 

[ellisdj]

90 is better than 60 with small speakers.

Where is the sub btw?

 

[Series1boy]

This looks stunning BB, very nice job..!

ive just purchased the Denon x4100 and I would presume the audessy setup would be very simular, if not the same as your Marantz. I've set all my speakers to small and at 80hz crossover and it sounds great. Funnily enough, when ran the audeessy, it set my centre to large and fronts left and right floor standers to small... Very easy to set up though and I'm looking at atmos speakers next.

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Set the sub to max. Then forget it - your amp will determine frequencies to send to the sub. Small for av & crossover 60-120 dependant on speakers (usually 80-100). For music I set to large and ignore the sub - bit of a nuisance but dont need the sub with large floorstanders.

 

[bigboss]

The sub is towards the back near the wall, about 20cm away from the corner. That's the only place to be honest. Sounds great there.

 

[bigboss]

I have my eye on something like XTZ Cinema 3X12 subwoofer, which will perfectly fit my bay window right at the front (to avoid booming).

I suppose I can try my KK DXD808 in the bay window. That area is blocked off by the sofas in any case. Where should I point it towards, to avoid booming?